Senate approves $1M for Albany NanoTech center

The money received full Senate approval, U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles E. Schumer announced this morning. The measure now goes to a conference committee of the House and Senate to resolve differences between their versions before final approval by both the House and Senate.

The bill, the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies FY08 appropriations measure, also contains language that makes The New York Center for National Competitiveness in Nanoscale Characterization, or (NC)3, at the University at Albany one of six centers in the country that will work with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology on nanotechnology research.

“This is a great step in promoting the Capital Region as a national leader in nanotechnology research and development,” said Clinton.

“This crucial funding will cement the partnership between NIST and UAlbany making this research hub a national center of excellence and a leader in nanotechnology research,” said Schumer.

The money will be used by (NC)3, a partnership between NIST and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at UAlbany, to advance nanoscale metrology innovations and strengthen their move from the laboratory through manufacturing to commercialization.